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Nursery at Featherstone Nursery School
Last reviewed: October 2026 · Inspection data and key information above update regularly, however, this review below is refreshed bi-annually and may not reflect recent changes. Contact the nursery directly to confirm current arrangements. If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Three outdoor areas and an on-site Forest School give Featherstone’s nursery day a clear emphasis: children have room to explore. This maintained nursery school in Erdington caters for children aged two to four, with up to 156 part-time places. Little Learners has a room and outdoor space for younger children; Explorers is the provision for three- and four-year-olds.
Featherstone shares leadership and resources with Osborne Nursery School through their federation. Its provision is nursery education, so moving to primary school means choosing and applying for the next setting.
The morning has a recognisable rhythm. A keyworker gathering brings greetings and counting, followed by a short activity with an adult. Listening games, growing, dancing and problem solving are among the possibilities. Children then choose their play across the rooms and outdoor space before returning to their group for songs and a story. The afternoon follows a similar pattern. Group time supplies structure; the longer stretch of choice lets children pursue their interests.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) connects learning through play with language, relationships, movement, early reading and maths, creativity and understanding the world. In Little Learners, communication, physical skills and emotional development take precedence, with a qualified teacher overseeing the curriculum. Explorers children can use the garden daily and have a half-day Forest School session each fortnight. Outdoor learning is part of the timetable.
Language receives specific attention. Explorers uses the Wellcomm Screening Tool when children join, followed by daily language activities suited to their needs. Prephonics develops listening through sound games and rhyme; Jolly Phonics introduces letter sounds when a child is ready. This makes readiness, rather than a fixed starting point, the trigger for that next step.
At the September 2021 inspection, Ofsted identified unfinished curriculum implementation and asked for planning to reflect the changes, alongside further development of indoor and outdoor spaces and resources that children could use in different ways. Those concerns matter alongside the daily activities: the curriculum’s breadth and the challenge offered by resources both needed attention.
A key worker links each child’s family with nursery. Explorers groups have up to 13 children, while Little Learners has one practitioner for every four to five children. Families are offered an induction meeting and regular parent meetings. September 2026 settling arrangements included home visits for new two-year-olds and Stay and Play sessions to meet key workers and other children.
Tapestry gives parents access to photographs, observations and comments about their child’s learning, with space to contribute experiences from home. Language support can include individual or small-group work and referral to Speech and Language Therapy. Ofsted’s September 2021 findings included effective key-person support, strong help for children with SEND and effective safeguarding. Permanent classroom staff have first-aid training.
Breakfast and snacks are free for children attending the relevant sessions. Children staying over lunch have a school dinner, funded by the local authority for those eligible for free school meals and otherwise charged to parents. Mealtimes also practise independence: using cutlery, pouring drinks and clearing away.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through the normal primary admissions process. For the September 2026 intake, Featherstone directed parents to Birmingham’s online admissions service and gave 15 January 2026 as the deadline. That was the previous application cycle.
Transition support is a separate matter from allocation. The federation’s work included district meetings between nurseries and primary schools and distribution of Ready, Steady, Reception! documents with place offers. These help prepare families for the move; they do not secure admission.
Morning sessions run from 8:30 to 11:30am, with afternoons from 12:30 to 3:30pm. Three- and four-year-olds can also take their 15 hours over two and a half days at either end of the week. Eligible working families can use 30-hour patterns over four or five sessions; alternative combinations between 8am and 4pm are subject to the office being able to accommodate them. Additional paid hours depend on availability.
Funded places include snacks and drinks. School fund contributions and contributions towards some visits are voluntary; ask the office for current charges. There is no compulsory uniform. Choose clothes children can manage themselves and move in, and expect messy play.
Parents settle children at a chosen activity at drop-off and collect them from their group’s carpet area. To register, return the initial form to the office or email enquiry@feathern.bham.sch.uk. The office can also be reached on 0121 675 3408.
Children aged two to four attend Little Learners or Explorers. Little Learners entry for children eligible for two-year-old funding is in the term after they turn two.
Yes, eligible working families can access 30-hour places. The school offers four- and five-session patterns, with some options restricted to three- and four-year-olds.
Explorers children have a half-day session each fortnight. Little Learners also has opportunities to use Forest School, alongside its own outdoor space.
Snacks and drinks are included. Children staying over lunchtime have a school dinner, paid for by the local authority if they qualify for free school meals and otherwise by their parents.
No. Parents must apply separately for a primary school place through the normal admissions process.
